Dispenser for a clothes washer



April 3, 1962 N. .1. BULLOCK ET AL 3,027,741

DISPENSER FOR A CLOTHES WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1960 INVENTORS Fig.

April 3, 1962 N. .1. BULLOCK ET AL 3,027,741

DISPENSER FOR A CLOTHES WASHER Filed Aug 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 |4 INVENTORS Fig. 2 Norman J. Bullock BY Theodore 0. .Sfufrud Their Attorney April 1952 N. J. BULLOCK ETAL 3,027,741

DISPENSER FOR A CLOTHES WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 22, 1960 IN VEN TORS April 1962 N. J. BULLOCK ET AL 3,027,741

DISPENSER FOR A CLOTHES WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 22, 1960 April 1952 N. J. BULLOCK ET AL 3,027,741

DISPENSER FOR A CLOTHES WASHER Filed Aug. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Norman J Bullock BY Theodore 0. Sfurrud The/r Affbmey 3,627,741 DISPENSER FER A CIJGTIES ti ASHER Norman J. Bullock and Theodore 0. Stutrud, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 51,129 7 Elaims. (6!. 63-17) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to an improved washing agent dispenser for a clothes washer.

Experience in the clothes washing art has taught that the admission of certain washing agents tends to improve the washing results. Experience has further shown that certain washing agents, such as bleach, should be admitted to the wash water subsequent to the admission of the detergent. More particularly, the bleaching agent should be admitted after the iridescent dyes in the detergent have had a chance to operate. In designing a dispenser to supply the various washing agents at the proper time, it is desirable to so configure the dispenser that it will fit within an otherwise unusable area Within the clothes washing cabinet.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a washing agent dispenser in the space between the spin tub and the top of the clothes washer cabinet.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a clothes washer with an annular trough-like dispenser which resides in the space between a vertical tub and the top of the washer cabinet.

A still more specific object of this invention is the provision of an annular trough-like wash water fill channel which includes a plurality of washing agent compartments selectively openable to said channel to divert said wash water for flushing the compartments.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a water fill channel and compartmented dispenser pan having an air gap water inlet portion which includes an orifice for bleeding a measured amount of water to one of said compartments for premixing with the washing agent.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a compartmented dispenser annulus which resides below a recessed portion of a cabinet top, said recessed portion hingedly supporting the cabinet door and concealably mounting fill means for said dispenser compartments.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view taken generally along line 11 in FIGURE 3 and partly in elevation to show a clothes washer provided with the dispenser of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top elevational view taken along the line 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 1 FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2 with the cabinet door closed;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of the bleach compartment of the dispenser of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of the rinse conditioner compartment of this dispenser;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic representation of the detergent compartment of this dispenser;

FIGURE 8 is a representative fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the dispenser lid pivotal mounting arrangement;

FIGURE 9 is a top elevational view partly in section 3,027,741 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 "ice 2 and with parts broken away of a representative lid dispenser assembly;

FIGURE 101s a side elevational view partly in section of the dispenser lid assembly;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away of the dispenser with particular emphasis on the water bill arrangement; and

FIGURE 12 is a view taken along line 1212 in FIGURE 10.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURES l and 2, a clothes washer 10 is shown comprised of a casing or cabinet haing a top wall or cabinet top 12, a front wall 14, a rear wall 16 and sidewalls 18 and 2t Disposed on the top wall 12 of the clothes washer is a control housing or console 22. Enclosed within the casing formed by the walls is a generally cylindrical water container 24 connected by brackets such as 26 to the exterior walls of the clothes washer cabinet. A bulkhead or central partition 28 is welded to the water container at the bottom thereof to form an imperforate water retaining receptacle having an outlet 30. A spin tub or water container basket 32 is rotatably and laterally resiliently carried in the water container 24 as by a resilient support member 34 fastened to the bulkhead. Within the spin basket 32 an agitator 36 is positioned and below the bulkhead Z8 is an agitating and spinning mechanism shown generally at 38 for selectively reciprocating the agitator 36 and rotating the spin tub 32.

The spin tub 32 is provided with a plurality of outflow ports 44 through which water is centrifuged when the tub is rotated. Also provided is a top opening 42 which is in axial alignment with a cylindrical access opening or collar 44 in the top wall 12 of the cabinet. Note that the cabinet top wall 12 is formed with a raised peripheral lip 46 to prevent over-spillage from the top of the cabinet. The wall 12 is also recessed to form a ledge as at 48 for receiving an access door 5t which is mounted on hinges 52, 54 to the top wall 12 of the cabinet.

The washer structure of this invention also includes means for insuring that the clothes are not spun out of the tub. During the centrifuging or rotation of the spin tub 32, the water forced from the fabric flows or exhausts by considerable difficulty is involved in retrieving an article of clothing which is thrown to the bottom 28 of the water container 24. For this reason this invention contemplates substantially closing the open top 62 of the cylindrical water container 24 with an annular tray or sub-top shown genenally at 64 (FIGURES 1 and 4). This sub-top mem her is formed with a downwardly opening radially outer peripheral channel 66 which fits over the upstanding cylindrical sidewall of the water container 24an annular seal 68 being interposed therebetween to further seal the water container and dampen vibration. Clamps 6-9 on the cabinet corner gussets retain the sub-top 64 in place. The radially inner portion of the sub-top 64 is supported in cantilever fashion from the water container and terminates in an upstanding wall or flange 70 substantially coaxially arranged with the top opening 42 of the spin tub 32. A flexible guard collar 72 of rubber or other suitable material is secured to the upstanding sub-top flange 70 by a plurality of clips such as 74. Note that the guard collar '72 depends toward the top of the spin basket, thereby minimizing the area through which any article could escape tom the spin tub into the water container. It should spea /a1 now be seen that the coaxially arranged access opening 44 in the cabinet top wall 12, the rubber guard collar 72 and the closely adjacent top opening 42 of the spin tub provide a smooth generally closed access channel between cabinet top and the spin tub.

Note that both the water container 24 and the sub-top 64 are notched downwardly as at 71 to provide an overflow point below the water supply tube 1%. This is in accordance with conventional plumbing code require ments.

Since the top of the water container 24 and the sub-top 64 are spaced from the top wall 12 of the cabinet, there exists an otherwise unusable or waste space 76 which this invention proposes to use as a housing area for a dispenser shown generally at 73. The dispenser 78 rests on the bottom wall of the sub-top 64 and circumscribes the opening 42 to the spin tub. With reference to FIGURE 2, the outline of the annular dispenser 7 8 has been placed in dotted line to illustrate the manner in which it is positioned around the depending collar 44 of the clothes washer cabinet. Note also in FIGURE 2 that the replacement or supply fill openings for the dispenser 7 8 are positioned on the recessed ledge 48 of the cabinet. More particularly, the fill openings may include a bleach fill opening Si formed in a properly marked eschutcheon 82; a rinse conditioner fill opening 84 formed on an escutcheon 86 and a detergent fillopening 83 formed in an escutcheon 96. The fill openings till, 84 and 88 will be covered or concealed when the door 511 is closed and will be exposed for reloading the dispenser with additional washing agents when the door is'open.

With reference now to FIGURES l and 3, the construction of the annular dispenser 73 will be set forth more fully. The dispenser 7 8 is comprised of a molded plastic body 6 of acrylonitrile styrene utilizing generally a Wall thickness of of an inch. The body 96 is formed with a radially inner sidewall 8 and a radially outer or peripheral wall ltlil interconnected by an imperforate bottom wall 162. The formation of side and bottom walls forms, an open top trough-like structure having an inlet opening 104 on one side thereof and an outlet opening 196 on the opposite side thereof. In the area of the inlet opening 1114 the dispenser body is formed with a raised Water supply housing portion 111%. A curved transverse partition subdivides the dispenser body into left and right channel portions. An orifice 114 in a slanted upward extension 270 of the partition 112 connects the water inlet opening 164 by way of a cut-out or bottomless portion 116 in the water supply housing 1118 to a bleach compartment 118 comprising the right channel portion of the dispenser. Additional details regarding the water supply for tub fill andwashing agent dispensing will be given more fully hereinafter in connection with FIGURE 11.

Within the left side of the dispenser body 96 there is an integrally molded partition 122 (FIGURES 3 and 4) which in conjunction with the outer peripheral wall 106 forms a detergent compartment or flushing chamber 124. In like fashion, an integrally molded partition 126 forms with the inner wall 98 of the dispenser body, a rinse conditioner compartment or flushing chamber 128. Note that the compartments 124 and 128 in the left half of the dispenser body do not extend completely across the dispenser body and thus define a channel 130 which meanders between the compartments 124 and 128 and connects the water inlet opening 104 of the dispenser body with the dispenser outlet 106.

As aforesaid, the right side channel of the dispenser body or bleach compartment 118 is provided with a top opening 116 leading from the water supply opening or inlet 104 and extends to an outlet opening or bleach outflow port 132 in an integral dispenser body partition 12%. To facilitate gravity flow through the dispenser, note that the bottom wall 102 of the dispenser body 96 is graded downwardly from the inlet end of the dispenser to the outlet nozzle 106. is accomplished by several differently sized integral ribs 134, 136 and 137, the first of which is higher than 136 and 137 to slope the dispenser for gravity flow around the annulus from water inlet to outlet. In order to selectively open and close the bleach compartment 118 to the outlet nozzle 1%, a dispenser lid assembly, shown generally at 138, is utilized to cover the bleach compartment outflow port 132. A more complete description of the dispenser lid assembly 138 will be given hereinafter. Sufiice it at this point to recognize that the lid assembly 138 is operated through a bleach outlet link 1415 connected to the bleach control solenoid 142 secured to a cabinet gusset 144. This invention also contemplates providing a top cover 146 for the bleach compartment 118, the cover having an opening 148 in axial alignment with the bleach fill opening 80. Thus, the bleach compartment 118 remains isolated from the remainder of the dispenser.

The rinse conditioner compartment as aforesaid is formed by the cooperation of a partition 126 and a portion of the sidewall 98 of the dispenser body. The rinse conditioner partition 126 is provided with a water inflow port 150 and a rinse conditioner and water outflow port 152. To selectively close the inflow port 1519, a lid dispenser assembly 154 is utilized-the lid seal 222 (FI URE 10) cooperating with the frame around the opening to close the compartment from the how channel 13%}. Similarly, a lid dispenser assembly 156 is used in conjunction with the outflow port 152. As set forth in connection with the bleach compartment 118, the details of the dis penser lid assemblies 15 and 156 will be given more fully hereinafter. Suflice'it for the general operation to note that a solenoid 158 mounted on a cabinet gusset 16%! operates through rinse conditioner inlet and outlet linkages 162 and 164 respectively, to manipulate the dispenser lid assemblies 154 and 155. The dispenser lids 154- and 156 operate simultaneously, both opening to provide flow through of water through the compartment. Note further that the dispenser lid 15 i acts as a scoop to direct the incoming water into the compartment 128. It will be seen that any liquid such as tub fill water flowing in the channel 139 when the dispenser lids 154 and 156 are open, will be scooped through the rinse conditioner compartment 123 and returned to the channel 130 for gravity fiow to the outflow port .106 of the dispenser.

The detergent compartment forming partition 122 includes a water inflow port 166 and a detergent and water outflow port 168. A water inflow port dispenser lid assembly 179 is utilized and a dispenser lid assembly 172 serves to open and close the detergent and water outflow port 168. Here, too, a solenoid 174 mounted on the cabinet gusset 1611 operates through a detergent inlet link 176 and a detergent outlet link 178 to manipulate the dispenser lid assemblies 176 and 172, respectively. With reference to FIGURE 4, it may be seen that the detergent compartment 124 does not underlie the detergent fill fitting 88. Consequently, a detergent fill guide 190 is supported or interconnected as at 15 2 with the detergent partition 122. The detergent fill guide 19% serves to chute the detergent into its compartment 12 Of course, it is within the purview of this invention to arrange the detergent compartment directly beneath a fill opening to improve the fill characteristics as it applies to granular detergents. With the dispenser lids and 172 in an open position, the liquid flow from the channel 130 will be diverted through the detergent compartment 124 as designated by a dot-dash arrow. Solid line arrows in the channel 131 evidence the flow of the tub fill water when the compartments for detergent and rinse conditioner are closed. The flushing action of the diverted tub fill water serves to keep the compartments 124 and 128 free of washing agent residue.

In order to provide a fill arrangement for the clothes washer 10 and more particularly the spin tub 32, a water supply fitting or molded discharge tube 1% is secured as at 198 to an integral parapet on the dispenser body 96. A flexible inlet hose leading from a conventional washer timer controlled fill valve (not shown) may be connected to the inlet end 198 of the discharge tube 196-the outlet end 200 being spaced in accordance with plumbing codes from the dispenser inlet opening 184. When water is ejected toward the dispenser body inlet opening 104, a portion thereof impinges on the partition 27 and regulatingly flows through the orifice 114 into the bleach compartment 118. The remainder of the water is directed in a reverse bend by the curved partition 112 into the channel 130 leading around the left-hand side of the dispenser body. The outer wall 100 of the dispenser body is flat across the back of the dispenser and includes a curved portion 131 which deflects the channel flow toward the dispenser outlet 1%. The operation will be best understood hereinafter in connection with the schematic representations of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

With reference now to FIGURES 3, 8, 9 and 10, a complete description will be given of the dispenser lid assemblies utilized in connection with the bleach compartment 1128, the rinse conditioner compartment 12% and the de tergent compartment 124. Taking for instance, the pivotal mounting arrangement of the dispenser lid 156, the rinse conditioner partition 126 is shown molded (FIG- URE 8) with an integral protuberance 219 and a notch 212. Generally speaking, the protuberance 210 is adapted to support and retain one end 214 of a lid return spring 216 which is a snap fastened thereto. On the other hand, the notch 212 serves to journal a shaft portion 218 of the dispenser lid assembly 156 shown in FIGURE 10.

The ispenser lid assembly 156 is comprised of an interchangeable dispenser lid or door 22d which is molded of acrylonitrile styrene to include a shaft or shank portion 218 having square protuberances or bosses 244 on each end. The face of the dispenser lid 22% retains a lid dispenser seal 222 held in place by a seal retainer 224 and fastening means, such as rivets 226. The shaft portion 218 fits into the notch 212 of the partition 126 and has aflixed to the top boss portion 244 a lid control disc 223 having a series of circumferentially arranged ports 230 thereabout. The control disc 228 is held in place on the lid by a washer 232 and a screw 234 which fits into an axial port 235 in the shaft. Thus, when the dispenser lid assembly 156 is inserted with its shank 21k; in the notch 212, the link 164 is connected to one or the other of the control ports 230 to adjust the dispenser lid seal 222 into sealing relationship with the circumscribing frame of the outflow port 152. It should be understood that the foregoing explanation is equally applicable to the dispenser lid assembly 138, 154, 176 and 172, all of the parts being interchangeable.

T he interchangeability aspect of this invention may best be understood with reference to FIGURE 11. In the perspective view there shown, the preformed portion of the rinse conditioner partition 125 devoted to supporting the rinse conditioner inflow dispenser lid assembly 154 is shown. Note that a protuberance 240 projects into the channel 1% from the partition 126 and lies adjacent a notched portion 242. Thus, the construction of the dis penser lid assembly 156 is equally applicable to the dispenser lid 154-it being necessary merely to invert the door 220 before adding the control disc 230 and its retaining components 232, 234 to the square boss 244 at the opposite end of the shaft 218. The lid control disc 228 includes a square port 246 which overfits the lid boss 244. Thus, the single dispenser lid 220 may be used at either end of the rinse conditioner compartment 128, i.e., to close either the opening 152 or the opening 150. With this reassembly the inverted shank portion 218 may then he slid into the notch 242 for pivotal movement adjacent the inflow port 156. The simplicity of this interchangeability of parts should be recognized in that one set of components for the dispenser lid assemblies will work equally well on each of the inflow and outflow ports of the various dispenser compartments 118, 124 and 128.

he operation of the lid return spring 216 was alluded to briefly hereinbefore. More particularly, the dispenser lid 220 is formed with a recess 25% which guides the biasing end 252 of the return spring. This, too, applies equally for the identical rinse conditioner inflow port return spring 254, the detergent compartment inflow and outflow port springs 256 and 258 and the bleach compartment outflow port return spring 266.

The adjustment of the various lid assemblies to their respective inflow and outflow ports will now be described in connection with the rinse conditioner compartment 128. Note that the outflow dispenser lid assembly 156 and the inflow dispenser lid assembly 154 are operated simultaneously by the solenoid actuated rinse conditioner inflow port link 162 and the rinse conditioner outflow port link 164. To provide the adjustability needed to elfect positive seal at both the inflow and outflow ports of each dispensing compartment, the control disc, such as 228, is used on each dispenser lid. As aforesaid, the center of the control disc has a square port 246 which overfits a square head 244 on the shank 218 of the dispenser lids. Since the control discs have a plurality of circumferentially arranged ports, it is possible to connect the links 162 and 164 in the proper combination of control disc ports 239 to effect the simultaneous operation of the dispenser lids, as well as the proper seal of lids with the inflow and outflow ports 15% and 152. A further adjustment is possible by rotating the control disc relative to the lid shaft 218 to secure further combinations for the links 162 and 164 with the ported control discs. The adjustment feature explained with reference to the rinse conditioner lid actuating assembly is equally applicable to the detergent lid assemblies 17% and 172 which are actuated by the links 176 and 173. Although simultaneous action is not involved in connection with the bleach dispensing lid assembly 1-38, the link 140 is also made adjustable by a ported control disc.

The clothes washer and dispenser water fill supply will best be understood with reference to the fragmentary perspective view in FIGURE 11. Note that a bottomless water supply housing 108 is added to the top of the dispenser body 96 in axial alignment with the water discharge tube 1%. The bleach compartment cover 146 is notched out to accommodate the configuration of the water supply housing 1%. Separating the left and right sides of the dispenser annulus is the generally curved partition 112 which deflects the majority of the inlet water into the tub fill channel 130. The bottomless water supply housing 108 straddles the partition 112 and includes a water inlet wall 260 having the inlet opening 104 therein, a top wall 262, sidewalls 254 and 266 and a rear wall 268. Note that the water supply housing 103 has no bottom wall, thus opening the supply housing into either the channel 136 at one end thereof and the bleach compartment 118 at the other end thereof-the partition 112 and its slanted upper extension 27% serving to segregate the two areas. The water supply housing partition 270 includes the orifice 114 by which water fiow is metered into the bleach compartment 118. The partition 270 is carried between the sidewalls 264- and 266 of the water supply housing and is tilted in order to minimize turbulence from the impinging fill water from the discharge tube 196. Also, to prevent turbulence, the bleach compartment cover 146 extends over the area in which the flow of water is reversed by the partition 112, thereby smoothing and stream-lining the flow into the channel down stream of the water supply inlet end.

Since the bleach compartment 118 is covered, it is desirable to provide an overflow opening 274 in the curved partition 112. In this way an over-supply of fluid to the bleach compartment will bleed through the: opening 274 into the channel 130 where it will flow unobstructed to the outlet nozzle 106 of the dispenser.

Note in FIGURE 11 that the water metered through the opening 114 into the bleach compartment provides for premixing of the water and bleach before the dispenser lid assembly 138 is opened to permit gravity flow of the mixed bleach and water into the spin tub. The size of the orifice 114*determines the amount of dilution of the bleach mixture. To improve the mixing of the bleach and water, it is within the purview of this invention to provide a small cylindrical nozzle (not shown) on the bleach compartment side of the orifice 114 to which may be attached a flexible tube of plastic or other bleach re sistant material. This tube is then permitted to lay along the bottom of the bleach compartment 118 with it terminal end in the area of the outflow port 132. This arrangement will permit the water to mix with the bleach from the low end of the bleach compartment and any tendency for the fluids to stratify will be impeded.

In operation reference may be had to FIGURES 2, 5,. 6 and 7. An operator will open the lid St of the clothes washer 10 to expose the fill openings 30, 84 and $8 for the dispenser '78. Bleach will be poured through the strainer opening 30 which is axially in line with the opening 148 in the cover 146 of the bleach compartment 113. The bottom wall of the bleach compartment 118 is graded downwardly toward the outlet nozzle 1%. Consequently, the bleach will fill from the outlet side of the dispenser toward the inlet (FIGURE 5). Rinse conditioner is added through the screened opening 84 in the access opening ledge or recess id-the rinse conditioner filling the compartment 128 in FIGURE 6. Lastly, the detergent is poured through the opening 38 into the compartment l24-the detergent fill guide 1% serving to direct the detergent to the compartment 1124. It should be recognized that the detergent fill guide may be dispensed with by placing the detergent compartment 124 directly beneath the fill nozzle 88 on the radially inner side of the dispenser body. Clothing is placed in the spin tub 32 and the automatic washing cycle initiated through the control housing 22. An automatic timer is contemplated for use with this invention in which the solenoids 142, 158 and 174 are selectiveiy and sequentially actuated at the desired point in the washing cycle. More particularly, the solenoid 174 will first be energized to open the inflow detergent dispenser lid 170 and the outflow detergent dispenser lid 172; simultaneously, the flow arrows in FIGURE 7 indicating the flushing action of the water directed from the discharge tube 196 into the channel 13%. As the detergent compartment 124 is flushed, the detergent and water will be commingled-and carried by way of the nozzle 106 to the spin tub.

After the agitation portion of the wash cycle has proceeded for a sufficient time to permit the iridescent dyes in the detergent to perform their task, the solenoid 142 is energized to open the bleach outflow lid 138. Since the water and the bleach have been commingled or premixed in advance of dispensing, the dilute mixture will flow by way of nozzle 1&6 into the spin tub.

After the cycle has progressed to the last rinse cycle, the solenoid 153 will be energized by the timer to simultaneously open the rinse conditioner. dispenser lids 154 and 156-. The water entering the channel 130 from the discharge tube 196 will flush out the rinse conditioner compartment l.23the flushed out mixture being carried to the nozzle 106 and, hence, into the spin tub 32.

It should now be seen that an improved dispenser has been taught in which the dispenser body lies in an annular space about the access to the spin tub and between the sub-top and the top of the washer cabinet. The various washing agent compartments are disposed within an annular channel and adapted to receive washer tub fill water which has been selectively deflected into the compartments for gravitationally carrying the washing agents to the spin tub and for flushing and cleaning the compartments. This invention further teaches the use of a subtop panel overlying the top of a water container and carrying a flexible collar. The combination of the subtop and collar are effective to prevent articles of clothing $5 from being thrown out of the spin tub into the water container.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with a clothes washer casing having a top wall and enclosing a vertical spin tub with an access opening, dispenser comprising an annular troughlike pan having side and bottom walls circumscribing said access opening between said top wall and said spin tub, said pan having an inlet chamber divided into upper and lower sections for receiving water and an outlet overlying said access opening, first partition means in said pan defining a rinse conditioner compartment between said lower section and said outlet, second partition means in said pan defining a detergent compartment between said lower section and said outlet, said first and second partition means with said pan forming a by-pass channel connecting said lower section of said inlet chamber to said outlet, third partition means in said pan defining a bleach compartment connecting to said upper section of said inlet chamber to said outlet, said first partition means having a first water inflow port and a rinse conditioner outflow port, said second partition means having a second water inflow port and a detergent outflow port, said third partition means having a bleach outflow port, first and second dispenser lids for selectively covering said first Water inflow port and said rinse conditioner outflow port respectively, third and fourth dispenser lids for selectively covering said second water inflow port and said detergent outflow port, a fifth dispenser lid for selectively covering said bleach outflow port, first solenoid means for simultaneously operating said first and second dispenser lids, second solenoid means for simultaneously operating said third and fourth dispenser lids, third solenoid means for operating said fifth dispenser lid, and means for supplying a measured amount of water to said upper section and an unmeasured amount of water to said lower section, whereby said compartments are flushed selectively into said spin tub when said solenoids are energized selectively.

2. In combination with an appliance casing having a top wall and enclosing a vertical tub with an access opening, a dispenser comprising an annular trough-like pan having side and bottom walls circumscribing said access opening between said top wall and said tub, said pan having an inlet chamber divided into first and second sections for receiving water and an outlet connected to said access opening, first partition means in said pan defining a first washing agent compartment between said second section and said outlet, second partition means in said pan defining a second washing agent compartment between said second section and said outlet, said first and second partition means with said pan forming a by-pass channel connecting said second section of said inlet chamber to said outlet, third partition means in said pan defining a third washing agent compartment connecting said first section of said inlet chamber to said outlet, said first partition means having a first water inflow port and a first washing agent outflow port, said second partition means having a second water inflow port and a second washing agent outflow port, said third partition means having a third washing agent outflow port, first and second dispenser lids for selectively covering said first water inflow port and said first washing agent outflow port respectively, third and fourth dispenser lids for selectively covering said second water inflow port and said second washing agent outflow port respectively, a fifth dispenser lid for selectively covering said third washing agent outflow port, first means for simultaneously operating said first and second dispenser lids, second means for simultaneously operating said third and fourth dispenser lids, third means for operating said fifth dispenser lid, and means for supplying a first amount of water to said first section and a second amount of water to said second section, whereby said compartments are flushed selectively into said tub when said operating means are energized selectively.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said top wall of said casing includes means for filling said compartments with said washing agents.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said annular trough-like pan is sloped downwardly from said inlet chamber to said outlet.

5. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said first and third dispenser lids project into said by-pass channel to scoop at least a portion of said second amount of water into said first and second washing agent compartments when said first and second operating means are actuated.

6. In combination with a clothes washer casing having a top wall and enclosing a vertical spin tub with an access opening, a dispenser comprising a trough-like pan having side and bottom walls between said top wall and said spin tub, said pan having an inlet chamber and an outlet overlying said access opening, first partition means in said pan defining a rinse conditioner compartment, second partition means in said pan defining a detergent compartment, said first and second partition means with said pan forming a lay-pass channel connecting said inlet chamber to said outlet, third partition means in said pan defining a bleach compartment connected to said inlet chamber, said first partition means having a first water inflow port and a rinse conditioner outflow port, said second partition means having a second water inflow port and a detergent outflow port, said third partition means having a bleach outflow port, first and second dispenser lids for selectively covering said first water inflow port and said rinse conditioner outflow port respectively, third and fourth dispenser lids for selectively covering said second water inflow port and said detergent outflow port, a fifth dispenser lid for selectively covering said bleach outflow port, first means adapted for timer actuation for simultaneously operating said first and second dispenser lids, second means adapted for timer actuation for simultaneously operating said third and fourth dispenser lids, third means adapted for timer actuation for operating said fifth dispenser lid, and means for supplying water to said inlet chamber, whereby said compart ments are flushed selectively into said spin tub when said means adapted for timer actuation are actuated selectively.

7. A dispenser for a clothes washer casing or the Elite having a top wall and enclosing a tub with an access opening comprising a trough-like pan having side and bottom walls adapted to be disposed between said top Wall and said tub, said pan having an inlet chamber and an outlet adapted to overlie said access opening, partition means in said pan defining a washing agent compartment, partition means with said pan forming a bypass channel connecting said inlet chamber to said outlet, said partition means having a water inflow port and a washing agent outflow port, first and second dispenser lids for selectively covering said water inflow port and said washing agent outflow port respectively, means adapted for timer actuation for simultaneously operating said first and second dispenser lids, and means for supplying water to said inlet chamber, whereby said compartment is flushed selectively to said outlet when said means adapted for timer actuation is actuated selectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,386 Hunter Dec. 29, 1868 553,019 Roat Ian. 14, 1895 2,006,085 Lehmkuhl June 25, 1935 2,312,950 Zimarik Mar. 2, 1943 2,811,033 Albrecht Oct. 29, 1957 

